Social Responsibility and Storytelling at Penguin Random House [Video]

by Jessica McIntyre and Melanie Fallon-Houska|July, 2016

We, too, are writing our story at Penguin Random House: telling the world who we are, what we do, and why we do it. Equally important is how. We invite you to explore the shared sense of purpose across our organization in this new video.

This mission of social responsibility is exemplified in the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards. On June 7, Penguin Random House presented $112,000 in scholarships to fifty-six seniors from New York City public high schools during the twenty-third annual live onstage Creative Writing Awards Show at NYC’s Symphony Space. The awards presentation, which is a signature program of the Penguin Random House Foundation, included dramatic readings, spoken word poetry, and graphic novel presentations from a selection of winners, including this year’s recipient of the $10,000 Maya Angelou Scholarship Award for Spoken Word Poetry.

Each submission to the competition was given individual consideration through a multi-level selection process that recognizes the unique visions and voices of these New York City high school students. Entries were judged on their style, form, and content. Among this year’s judges were Poets & Writers magazine publisher Elliot Figman, Penguin Young Readers executive editor Rob Valois, and Random House author Billy Collins.

The winning high school seniors and their families, along with teachers and publishing industry guests, were joined by Newbery medalist and Wendy Lamb Books (an imprint of Random House Children’s Books)author Rebecca Stead (Goodbye Stranger); Crown Books’ Tara Clancy, author of the forthcoming memoir The Clancys of Queens; graphic novel author Robert V. Conte; and Elissa Goldstein, English teacher at Queens High School for the Sciences at York College.

For a full list of winners and judges, as well as more details on the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards and other Penguin Random House Foundation programs, click here. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact mfallonhouska@penguinrandomhouse.com.

Jessica McIntyre is Senior Communications Associate for the Office of the CEO at Penguin Random House.

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